Ladbrokes to sponsor UK Open & Players Championship Finals

Ladbrokes UK Open

Feb 13 2024

The Professional Darts Corporation is delighted to announce Ladbrokes as the title sponsor of the UK Open and Players Championship Finals.

Record-breaking Van Gerwen continues title defence in Minehead

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 25 2023

Michael van Gerwen produced a record-breaking display to continue his defence of the Cazoo Players Championship Finals title on a thrilling day of action on Saturday.

Veenstra stuns World Champion Smith on opening day in Minehead

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 24 2023

Richard Veenstra dumped out World Champion Michael Smith on the opening day of the Cazoo Players Championship Finals on Friday.

New trophy unveiled for Cazoo Players Championship Finals

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 24 2023

The winner of the 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals will receive a specially-commissioned new trophy.

Where to watch the 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 24 2023

Check out all the ways to watch the 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals.

PDC to 'Keep It Up' for Rainbow Laces in 2023 with logo makeover

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 23 2023

The PDC's annual support of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign will increase in 2023 with the use of the trans flag on stage at the Cazoo Players Championship Finals this weekend.

2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals preview

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 23 2023

The 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals begins on Friday, as reigning champion Michael van Gerwen kicks off his bid for a record-extending eighth title in the event at Butlin's Minehead Resort.

Noppert to miss 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 20 2023

Dutch star Danny Noppert has withdrawn from the 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals.

2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals schedule of play confirmed

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 17 2023

The schedule of play for the opening day of the 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals has been confirmed ahead of the PDC's return to Minehead next weekend.

MrQ confirmed as partner of 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals

Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Nov 16 2023

The PDC are delighted to confirm MrQ as an official partner of the 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals.

The 2023 Cazoo Players Championship Finals took place from November 24-26 at Butlin's Minehead Resort.

The tournament saw the top 64 players from the 2023 Players Championship Order of Merit battling it out for TV silverware and £600,000 in prize money.

Session Schedule
Friday November 24
First Round
Afternoon Session
Main Stage

Ross Smith 6-2 Scott Williams
Ryan Searle 6-4 Boris Krcmar
Damon Heta 6-1 Jules van Dongen
Gian van Veen 6-1 Chris Landman
Rob Cross 6-3 Cameron Menzies
Josh Rock 6-4 Rowby-John Rodriguez
James Wade 6-2 William O'Connor
Jonny Clayton 6-4 Stephen Burton

Stage Two
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Gian van Veen 
Ryan Searle 6-3 Ricardo Pietreczko 
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-2 Matt Campbell
Brendan Dolan 6-5 Maik Kuivenhoven
Luke Woodhouse 6-3 Rob Cross
Gabriel Clemens 6-3 Josh Rock
Ryan Joyce 6-4 Joe Cullen
Niels Zonneveld 6-2 Jonny Clayton
James Wade 6-2 Steve Lennon

Evening Session
Third Round
Main Stage x4

Stephen Bunting 10-8 Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Luke Humphries 10-7 Ryan Searle
James Wade 10-6 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Stage Two x4
Damon Heta 10-8 Brendan Dolan
Luke Woodhouse 10-8 Dave Chisnall
Gabriel Clemens 10-1 Niels Zonneveld
Ryan Joyce 10-7 Jermaine Wattimena

Sunday November 26
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals

Michael van Gerwen 10-9 Stephen Bunting
Gabriel Clemens 10-7 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Humphries 10-7 James Wade
Ryan Joyce 10-6 Damon Heta

Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 11-6 Gabriel Clemens
Luke Humphries 11-3 Ryan Joyce

PDC Winmau World Youth Championship Final
Luke Littler 6-4 Gian van Veen

Final
Luke Humphries 11-9 Michael van Gerwen

Format
First Round - Best of 11 legs
Second Round - Best of 11 legs
Third Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs

Prize Fund
Winner £120,000
Runner-Up £60,000
Semi-Finalists £30,000
Quarter-Finalists £20,000
Third Round Losers £10,000
Second Round Losers £6,500
First Round Losers £3,000
Total £600,000

Comeback kid Luke Humphries defied a nine-darter from Michael van Gerwen to storm to Cazoo Players Championship Finals glory in Minehead on Sunday night with an astonishing 11-9 triumph in the final.

Reigning champion Van Gerwen had looked set to claim his eighth Players Championship Finals crown when he achieved his third nine-darter in the event's history and opened up a 9-5 lead at Butlin's Minehead Resort.

However, Humphries incredibly reeled off six successive legs to secure a third televised title inside two months and scoop the £120,000 top prize.

Humphries' success follows his wins in the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts during a hectic autumn, and sees the 28-year-old move up to a career-high third on the PDC Order of Merit.

"To stand here with my third major title, I can't put it into words!" said Humphries. "I never dreamed of winning one, let alone three.

"I'd love to have beaten Phil Taylor in a final but I never got that opportunity so the next best thing for me is [to beat] the great of our generation, Michael van Gerwen.

"To beat him in a final is what I always dreamed of. I watched this man seven or eight years ago being at the absolute peak of his career, winning everything [and hitting] 110 averages for fun.

"To beat him in a final, I think this one probably does mean the most to me.

"It means I'm the best player in the world - he said I had to beat him in a final and I did! Michael was fantastic there, but he allowed me in."

Humphries opened the final with a superb 130 bull finish, with Van Gerwen taking out 126 in response before claiming the final's first break of throw in leg five with his incredible nine-darter; landing back-to-back 180s before finishing 141 on double 12.

The pair then traded 14-darters and Van Gerwen landed a 13-darter to lead 5-3, with Humphries replying on double ten before missing double 18 to level in leg ten, as the reigning champion pinned tops for a 74 combination.

Van Gerwen then secured a second break of throw by finishing 90 in two darts to punish a missed bull from Humphries for a 164 checkout, before a 13-darter gave the world number two daylight at 8-4.

Humphries responded with back-to-back maximums in a 12-darter to claim his fifth leg, only for Van Gerwen to fire in a ten-dart leg to restore his cushion.

Another 14-darter saw Humphries hit back before he broke for the first time on double ten, and double five saw the gap reduced to one leg at 9-8.

Humphries then followed a 180 with a stunning 142 checkout to level he final, and continued his momentum with a third-dart double ten to move 10-9 up.

The tension rose as Van Gerwen battled to force a deciding leg, but the Dutchman missed eight darts at doubles to keep his hopes alive before Humphries finally pinned double one to close out a memorable triumph.

Humphries had defeated James Wade in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals and averaged over 106 in his semi-final romp against Ryan Joyce, but admitted that he had to dig deep in the title decider.

"When I was playing that game, I felt flat," he added. "Against Ryan I was so tired and in that game there I felt I had nothing to give but I kept grinding."

Van Gerwen, who was appearing in his ninth final in 11 years of the event, paid tribute to Humphries after their dramatic contest.

"I had my chances," admitted Van Gerwen. "I was 9-5 up and from that position, I'm not allowed to lose; simple as that.

"I made it incredibly difficult and when you do that against a player in his form, you only can blame yourself.

"I had opportunities there but he played well at the end, he never gave up and fair play to him."

Van Gerwen had produced a tournament record average of 118.52 in Saturday's second round, and began Sunday's final day of action in Minehead by coming from 9-6 down against Stephen Bunting with a stunning burst of 13, 12, 11 and 12-dart legs.

He then averaged over 101 in a dominant 11-6 semi-final win over Gabriel Clemens, and added: "My level is definitely close to my best, but still you have to do it at the right moments.

"Today, I thought I was doing that but fair play to Luke. He played well all tournament, he's got the confidence, he's got everything on his side at the moment."

Clemens followed up his run to the World Championship semi-finals 11 months ago by seeing off Luke Woodhouse 10-7 in the last eight to match that achievement.

Ryan Joyce joined the German ace after his 10-6 win over Damon Heta secured a first appearance in a televised semi-final during a resurgent spell for the Newcastle thrower.

Sunday's action in Minehead also featured the Winmau World Youth Championship final, as 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler defeated Gian van Veen 6-4 to claim that title and a £10,000 top prize.

Drawboard